The Forgotten Hero's Rise

Ren Karus's breath came in short, panicked gasps as he was dragged through the bustling streets of Eldoria. The city, magnificent and bright, was a stark contrast to the storm brewing within his chest. The very weight of the world seemed to press down on him as the knights, holding him by his arms, shoved him through the crowded marketplace.

Shouts of excitement echoed from every corner of the street as people cheered for the heroes who had arrived earlier. Ren could see them in the distance, bathed in golden light, surrounded by awe-struck citizens. But none of those cheers were for him. None of those eyes turned his way.

He was invisible.

A whisper of wind cut through his hair as they reached the city gates. The knights didn't even glance at him. His presence was an afterthought, a mistake, a burden. With a final shove, they tossed him outside the city walls.

Ren collapsed onto the cold earth, the harsh impact leaving him breathless and bruised. His hands, dirty and scraped, pressed against the ground as he pushed himself to his feet. But there was no one to help him. No one to care.

The doors to Eldoria slammed shut behind him, sealing him away from the world that had just rejected him.

He was alone.

Why was I even summoned? Ren thought bitterly, staring at the massive stone gates in the distance. If I'm just going to be cast aside like this, what's the point of being a hero?

The wind howled around him, sending dust swirling across the barren landscape. His clothes were torn and ragged, the weight of despair heavier than any armor. The night was falling quickly, and the cold started to creep into his bones.

Ren looked around. He was on the outskirts of Eldoria, the capital city of the kingdom. But there was no direction here—no future. The land stretched out before him, empty and bleak.

You're not a hero, the voices in his mind mocked. You don't even have a weapon. You don't belong here. You don't deserve to be a part of this.

His hands balled into fists, nails digging into his palms. He could feel the heat of anger rising in his chest, but it did little to warm him.

What am I supposed to do now?

As the first drops of rain began to fall, Ren stumbled forward, his feet dragging through the mud. There had to be something he could do. Somewhere he could go. He wasn't going to die like this. Not after everything.

He walked for hours, aimlessly, the rain soaking through his thin tunic. His stomach growled in hunger, but there was nothing to eat in this forsaken place.

Finally, Ren collapsed on the ground, exhausted and defeated. He closed his eyes, trying to fight the exhaustion, trying to keep the despair from swallowing him whole.

That's when it happened.

A surge of power coursed through his veins, like a flame igniting deep within his chest. His eyes shot open, wide with shock. His body trembled, as though something ancient was awakening inside him, something he had never felt before.

What is this?

He gasped as a strange, swirling darkness began to wrap around his body. It felt like fire, but it was cold as ice. Ren's heart raced. The sensation was overwhelming too much for him to handle. But just as quickly as it came, it receded, leaving behind a strange emptiness.

He sat up, breathing heavily. His body was drenched, but the rain no longer seemed to matter. He could feel it. He could feel the power inside him.

This is...

Ren's mind reeled, trying to comprehend what had just happened. The power wasn't something he had earned, not something he had trained for. It was raw, untapped, and most importantly it was his.

It felt like the world itself was bending around him, ready to respond to his will.

But that was the problem.

Ren hadn't asked for this power.

He had been cast out. Abandoned. Forgotten.

His hands clenched into fists as he stood, the newfound energy flowing through him like wildfire. His vision sharpened, his senses heightened, but with it came an undeniable truth.

The world had rejected him. He wasn't part of the prophecy. He wasn't a hero.

But maybe, just maybe, I can make my own fate.

Ren looked out toward the horizon, where the storm clouds still loomed. The power was his now. And it wasn't just for show it was for survival.

His journey was only beginning.